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Re: Activists: Syrian Rebels take Christian Village

Originally Posted by Montecresto

Restore democracy! Very funny.

Syria was always unstable. After centuries of being part of the ottoman empire, when the ottoman empire was disolved after WW1, Syria was established as 5 separate states (by the French) in order to accommodate religious and ethnic differences. It was probably the most stable period it has seen. After that, it was established as republic... and then ww2 happened. After ww2, it continued to be a republic... it became independent (despite the French trying to prevent that) but... freedom meant that there was no more French influence in syria to moderate the various, often times extremist factions. This meant civil upheavel and often times persecution of Christians. So although independent, Syria was in a constant state of anarchy. It changed its flag about 3-4 (depending on who was in power) until finally, the Assad regime (not Bashir, his father) came along.

The Assads crushed islamic fundamentalism, restored order, enacted numerous reforms to consolidate their power, took away democracy, and the country saw a process of great economic expansion. So it was basically a benevolent dictatorship. And it's ironically, until the rise of islam supremacism in Syria and the start of the civil war, that Syria, under the Assads, has seen the best period of its existence for centuries.

Re: Activists: Syrian Rebels take Christian Village

No it bothers me that you continue to make excuses for Assad and his government. The latest excuse seems to be that he is a crusader fighting off the evil muslim hordes, pretty disgusting.

He is not a crusader, but he is a secularist. He is... was, at best, a benevolent dictator.

The revolution in Syria is not about democracy. The rebels dont' want that. They want sharia law and islamic theocracy instituted. They are jihadists, not liberators.

So there is no good side in the Syrian conflict. There is just 2 sides of the same dictatorial coin. One is a secular dictatorship, the other is an islamic one. That's why I keep on saying, the only genuine course of action that the west can take to make sure democracy and civil rights are respected in Syria is to go in, full force, wipe the floor with both the rebel forces and the Assad regime, and then restore democracy, and get out.

Re: Activists: Syrian Rebels take Christian Village

Originally Posted by Rainman05

Syria was always unstable. After centuries of being part of the ottoman empire, when the ottoman empire was disolved after WW1, Syria was established as 5 separate states (by the French) in order to accommodate religious and ethnic differences. It was probably the most stable period it has seen. After that, it was established as republic... and then ww2 happened. After ww2, it continued to be a republic... it became independent (despite the French trying to prevent that) but... freedom meant that there was no more French influence in syria to moderate the various, often times extremist factions. This meant civil upheavel and often times persecution of Christians. So although independent, Syria was in a constant state of anarchy. It changed its flag about 3-4 (depending on who was in power) until finally, the Assad regime (not Bashir, his father) came along.

The Assads crushed islamic fundamentalism, restored order, enacted numerous reforms to consolidate their power, took away democracy, and the country saw a process of great economic expansion. So it was basically a benevolent dictatorship. And it's ironically, until the rise of islam supremacism in Syria and the start of the civil war, that Syria, under the Assads, has seen the best period of its existence for centuries.

I would certainly agree with you that by comparison, life has been smoother under the Assad's, which is why I have argued from the beginning that the US should have stayed out of the conflict, Assad would have crushed it early on and there wouldn't be 100,000 dead and it wouldn't be escalating into the, threatening to the region and beyond, crises that it is.

Re: Activists: Syrian Rebels take Christian Village

No it bothers me that you continue to make excuses for Assad and his government. The latest excuse seems to be that he is a crusader fighting off the evil muslim hordes, pretty disgusting.

I'm making no excuses for anyone. I posted the story, I didn't write it or make it up. If you were interested in truth and justice, you would read it and see that Assad's forces did indeed battle Islamic extremists forces outside this Christian village in an attempt to protect it, were overwhelmed and had to withdraw. The extremists (that you love to support) subsequently sacked the city, killing many. Those that could have fled, the entire fate is presently unknown. You are on the wrong side of this. Several other posters have pointed out Assad's history of religious tolerance, but this doesn't seem to be important to those who's hearts are set on war.

Re: Activists: Syrian Rebels take Christian Village

He is not a crusader, but he is a secularist. He is... was, at best, a benevolent dictator.

The revolution in Syria is not about democracy. The rebels dont' want that. They want sharia law and islamic theocracy instituted. They are jihadists, not liberators.

So there is no good side in the Syrian conflict. There is just 2 sides of the same dictatorial coin. One is a secular dictatorship, the other is an islamic one. That's why I keep on saying, the only genuine course of action that the west can take to make sure democracy and civil rights are respected in Syria is to go in, full force, wipe the floor with both the rebel forces and the Assad regime, and then restore democracy, and get out.

See my previous post too.

I would agree with your assessment of the jihadists, but you previously, and correctly, pointed out earlier that Syria was much calmer under the Assad's then many other periods in their history, so there is a better side to support and that is of course Assad.
Which is by far an excuse of any and all of Assad's wrong doings.

Re: Activists: Syrian Rebels take Christian Village

Originally Posted by CRUE CAB

So what? Is that worth American lives and money?

Depends on how you look at things. Are you of the mindset that we should have gotten involved with Germany when they were killing Jewish people? I only use that example, because it's an example of how things can escalate when a dictator (or rebels) are allowed to do something inhuman without consequences.

I'm of the mindset that we should not be the world police and if the U.N. authorizes any action to be taken, it should be taken by all of the U.N. and not just the U.S.